LeadUP Podcast

Viwe Mkizwana is an award-winning bassist, composer, arranger, musical director and educator. He has performed around the world, plays with the likes of the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra and MIAGI Orchestra, and has released three albums. He has picked up SAMA nominations, a Mzantsi Jazz Award, and two Naledi Awards. He continues to push the boundaries of African jazz. On this episode, he speaks to us about:How he fell in love with jazz music.Convincing his family that going into a creative field was the right path for him.How his university studies have helped him grow as a musician.The message behind his latest album, ‘Black Child’.Managing the business of making music.Find us at www.up.ac.za/leadup – click on LeadUP Podcast. To listen, you can stream, download and subscribe online or on your favourite podcast app, or find us on YouTube. Help us grow by rating and reviewing the show!LeadUP is a production of the University of Pretoria’s Alumni Office. Our host is Lennox Wasara, and our team includes Elna Schütz and Duané Kitching. Our technical engineers are Meropa Communications, with language and marketing services by Brightlight SA Communications.

Izak Smit is the Group Chief Executive Officer at PPS, one of South Africa’s last remaining mutual insurance companies. He completed a BCom Honours in Economics at UP and holds a Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Oxford. He is a proud Tuks alum and sits on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS).On this episode, he speaks to us about:Why he believes that he already has his dream job.How to build and strengthen culture in a company.Why the model of mutual insurance works well.How to move beyond simplistic work/life balance. Why he is so proud to be a UP graduate.Find us at www.up.ac.za/leadup – click on LeadUP Podcast. To listen, you can stream, download and subscribe online or on your favourite podcast app, or find us on YouTube. Help us grow by rating and reviewing the show! New episodes drop on the last Tuesday of May, July, September and November 2025. LeadUP is a production of the University of Pretoria’s Alumni Office. Our host is Lennox Wasara, and our team includes Elna Schütz, Duané Kitching and Samantha Castle. Our technical engineers are Meropa Communications, with language and marketing services by Brightlight SA Communications.

Puno Selesho is a spoken word artist who has performed for presidents and celebrated companies, locally and internationally. In her capacity as a social entrepreneur, she established Harvest House Creative Agency, where she currently serves as creative director. She graduated with an LLB from the University of Pretoria and a certification in social entrepreneurship from UP’s business school, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), in 2020. On this episode, she speaks to us about:Studying law, but then moving into the creative and business world.Hope as a positive tool in the world.What she’s learned through building a creative agency to support creatives.Her approach to social justice.What’s next for her, and working through shifting seasons professionally.Find us at www.up.ac.za/leadup – click on LeadUP Podcast. To listen, you can stream, download and subscribe online or on your favourite podcast app, or find us on YouTube. Help us grow by rating and reviewing the show! New episodes drop on the last Tuesday of May, July, September and November 2025. LeadUP is a production of the University of Pretoria’s Alumni Office. Our host is Lennox Wasara, and our team includes Elna Schütz and Samantha Castle. Our technical engineers are Meropa Communications, with language and marketing services by Brightlight SA Communications.

Sumarie Greybe, co-founder of insurance industry upstart Naked Insurance, graduated from the University of Pretoria with a BCom Honours degree in Actuarial Science. After leaving the corporate short-term insurance world, she decided to shake the sector up with a fresh perspective – and in the process she’s rethinking the status quo with a bold, human-centred approach shaped by her belief in fairness, simplicity and innovation. On this episode, she speaks to us about:what she enjoys most about working in insurance;how she made the leap to creating a disruptive start-up;growing a company well while giving staff the freedom to innovate;incorporating social good and community into her work; andpicking great co-founders to work with. Find us at www.up.ac.za/leadup and clicking on LeadUP Podcast. To listen, you can stream, download and subscribe online or on your favourite podcast app. Help us by rating and reviewing the show. New episodes are released on the last Tuesday of May, July, September and November 2025. LeadUP is a production of the University of Pretoria’s Alumni Office. Our host is Lennox Wasara and our team includes Elna Schütz and Samantha Castle. Our technical engineers are Meropa Communications, with language and marketing services by Brightlight SA Communications.

Prof Francis Petersen became Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria in October 2024, starting a new chapter in his already illustrious career in education. He was most recently Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, where he was lauded for his focus on stability and transformation. He has previously served at a variety of higher education institutions and organisations in his industry. He is an engineer by training. In this episode, he chats to us about:His leadership style and personal philosophies; Lessons learned from his industry and previous executive roles;The strategies and approaches that have shaped him as a leader;His vision for taking UP to new heights; andHow micro-credentialing, partnerships and more will be a part of the future.Find us by going to www.up.ac.za/leadup and clicking on Podcasts. To listen, you can stream, download, and subscribe online or on your favourite podcast app on your phone. Help us out by rating and reviewing us. LeadUP is a production of the University of Pretoria’s Alumni Office. Our host is Lennox Wasara and our team includes Elna Schütz and Samantha Castle. Our technical engineers are Meropa Communications, with language and marketing services from Brightlight SA Communications.